How to Fix a Splintering Wood Floor

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Things You'll Need

  • Utility knife

  • Wood glue

  • Rag

  • Water

  • Waxed paper

  • Heavy object

  • Sandpaper

  • Old toothbrush

Eliminating splinters when they first appear will keep your flooring comfortably smooth.
Image Credit: Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images

A quality wood floor will last for many years with proper cleaning and maintenance. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for some types of wood to splinter even if the floors have received the appropriate care. Most wood floor splinters can be mended without replacing the entire floor board, but you should promptly repair any splinters as soon as they appear to prevent the floor from splintering more severely.

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Step 1

Lift up the part of the splinter that has detached from the grain. Use the tip of a utility knife blade.

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Step 2

Apply a liberal coating of wood glue to the underside of the splinter. If the splinter is small and cannot be lifted up enough to squeeze the glue directly from the bottle, apply the glue to a cotton swab and wipe it onto the splinter.

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Step 3

Push the splinter back down into place. Hold it with your fingers for a few seconds to make sure that the glue adheres.

Step 4

Dampen a rag with plain water. Wipe down the area around the splinter to remove excess glue. Avoid using too much water, as the wood glue is water-based and will not adhere properly if excess water is applied.

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Step 5

Place a sheet of waxed paper over the newly-repaired wood. Place a heavy object on top of the waxed paper.

Step 6

Leave the heavy object on the repaired area of your floor overnight. Remove the object and paper the next day.

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Step 7

Sand the repaired area of the wood. Sand lightly to avoid taking off any more wood than necessary. Reapply floor finish to the area, if necessary.

Tip

If the splinter leaves a small hole, groove or niche, touch up your floor with a matching color of wood filler.

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